Michigan Roll Call: How your legislators voted

Monday

Mar 17, 2014 at 8:47 AMMar 17, 2014 at 8:47 AM

MichiganVotes.org

Votes by local legislators last week in the Michigan House and Senate:Senate Bill 608, to authorize additional state spending and debt, revise Medicaid funding detail: Passed 30 to 5 in the Senate. Adopts a compromise version of the bill reported by a House-Senate conference committee. This appropriates an additional $215 million for roads, plus extra money for a variety of other government programs. It authorizes but does not fund a project involving purchase of the Steelcase "Pyramid" building for a loosely defined, education-related "public/private partnership." The bill also authorizes $60.3 million in new debt for state college and university construction projects. Finally, it adjusts spending in the current year budget to reflect fund source changes triggered by adoption of the Obamacare Medicaid expansion starting in April.Sen. Arlan Meekhof, R-Olive Township: Yes Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton: Yes Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge: YesSenate Bill 276, to require community service work by welfare recipients: Passed 91 to 19 in the House. Would require welfare recipients to perform community service if they are not already in a welfare-related work or training program, subject to many exceptions.Rep. Bob Genetski, R-Saugatuck: Yes Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland: Yes Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township: Yes Rep. Roger Victory, R-Hudsonville: YesHouse Bill 5092, to define “brandishing” a firearm in statute: Passed 105 to 4 in the House. Would define “brandishing” a firearm as “to point, wave about, or display in a threatening manner with the intent to induce fear.” Under current law “brandishing” is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. House Bill 5091 establishes that pointing a gun at someone to defend oneself or another is not "brandishing."Gemetski, Haveman, Price, Victory: YesHouse Bill 5327, to make government firearms ownership databases non-public information: Passed 82 to 27 in the House. Would establish that state records and databases related to individual firearms ownership and permits are confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill authorizes law enforcement exceptions allowing access based on reasonable suspicion of a crime or threat, and a $500 civil fine for violations.Genetski, Haveman, Price, Victory: YesSenate Bill 505, would remove ban on logo glasses in bars: Passed 103 to 5 in the House. Would codify in law an administrative restriction on alcohol manufacturers and distributors giving or selling bars and restaurants certain items that promote their brands. However, it would repeal a ban on bars using logoed glassware they buy at retail from another source.Genetski, Haveman, Victory: Yes Price: No— MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.